-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The world is seeing sobering signs of climate change 's accelerating impacts , from longer , more intense droughts to stronger storms and rising seas . Yet in contrast to the slow pace of international negotiations to combat climate change , national legislation is advancing at a startling rate , a surprise to those who ascribe to the conventional wisdom that progress has waned .

Remarkably , since 1997 , almost 500 climate-related laws have been passed in 66 countries covering around 88 % of global greenhouse gases released by human activities . This surprising legislative momentum is happening across all continents . Encouragingly , this progress is being led by the big emerging and developing countries , such as China and Mexico , that together will represent 8 billion of the projected 9 billion people on Earth in 2050 .

These are the key findings of the 4th edition of the GLOBE Climate Legislation Study , released on Thursday 27 February , the only compendium of climate legislative action created by legislators from around the world , and the most comprehensive audit yet of the extent and breadth of the emerging legislative response to climate change .

Our message is that we believe national legislation should be at the heart of a new international agreement to tackle climate change , and this study is proof it can be achieved in every country .

While optimistic , we must also be honest . These laws are not yet enough to limit global average temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius -LRB- 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit -RRB- above pre-industrial levels , the level scientists say we must not breach if we are to avoid the worst risks of climate change . Yet these actions are putting into place the legal frameworks necessary to measure , report , verify and manage greenhouse gas emissions -- the cause of man-made climate change .

Part of the reason for this spectacular wave of progress is changing attitudes . Previously , the debate on climate change was framed by a narrative about sharing a global burden -- with governments naturally trying to minimize their share . Now , however , countries are seeing mitigating climate change -- through clean energy and energy efficiency solutions -- and strengthening resilience to its impacts , as being firmly in the national interest .

For example , 61 of the 66 countries in the GLOBE study have passed laws to promote domestic , clean sources of energy and 54 have legislated to increase energy efficiency . The former reduces reliance on imported fossil fuels , thereby mitigating exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices , increasing energy security and reducing energy poverty . The latter reduces costs and increases competitiveness . That 's why the first bill U.S. Senator Markey introduced was to do both .

And it 's no surprise , too , that 52 out of the 66 countries covered by the study have developed legislation to improve their resilience to the impacts of climate change , some of which we are already experiencing .

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As the formal U.N. negotiations move towards Paris in 2015 , the scheduled conclusion of negotiations on a post-2020 framework , this legislation is creating a strong foundation on which a post-2020 global agreement can be built .

Moreover , it is increasingly clear that not only is the agreement in Paris dependent on national legislation in place in advance , implementation of the Paris agreement will only be effective through national laws , overseen by well-informed legislators from all sides of the political spectrum .

A national `` commitment '' or `` contribution '' put forward at the U.N. will only be credible -- and durable beyond the next election -- if it is backed up by national legislation , supported by cross-party legislators , that puts in place a credible set of policies and measures to ensure effective implementation .

That is why legislators must be at the center of international negotiations and policy processes , not just on climate change , but also on the full range of sustainable development issues . And it is why , on climate change , governments must immediately prioritize supporting the implementation of national legislation between now and 2015 .

GLOBE members recognize this and have been at the forefront of developing the legislative response to climate change . In 2008 UK members shaped and strengthened the Climate Change Act . In 2009 , South Korean members passed `` Green Growth '' legislation . In 2013 , members in Micronesia were instrumental in the passage of climate-related legislation showing the power of island voices .

A comprehensive climate change law is expected to pass in Costa Rica this year , and members in China , Colombia , Democratic Republic of Congo , Nigeria and Peru , amongst others , are developing legislation now .

However , we need to do much more . And that is why , in collaboration with the World Bank and the United Nations , GLOBE is launching the `` Partnership for Climate Legislation '' to promote the advance of climate-related laws .

Of course , the role of legislators does not end when legislation is passed . It is one thing to pass legislation and another to implement it . That is why GLOBE is equipping legislators to be as effective as possible in holding their governments to account . This is crucial if the agreement made in Paris in 2015 is to deliver .

Legislators -- with their formal responsibilities on legislation and oversight - are a fundamental part of an effective strategy to tackle the world 's environmental and sustainable development challenges . To maximize the chances of success , they must be at the center of all international processes and negotiations . Success in Paris to create a climate agreement , the follow-through to implement the accord , and the fate of our planet depend on our actions .

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World seeing sobering signs of climate change 's accelerating impacts , say politicians

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But they argue that national legislation to limit emissions is advancing

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U.N. action on climate change will only be credible if backed up by national legislation , they say

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`` The fate of our planet depend on our actions , '' they write